Xiaoming had seen the trending post on Instagram too. For internet-surfing netizens who were everywhere, this was hardly any secret.
That was indeed the case. South Korea was one hour ahead of China, so when SKT updated its official announcement on Korean Instagram at eight o'clock, it was only seven in China.
During that time, countless netizens saw the news one after another. By seven-thirty, it had already spread all over Weibo.
The Royal Hooligans completely refused to believe it at first glance. They were still basking in the lingering delight of Xu Junyan having supposedly become a complete castoff of the entire LPL, their mouths stretched nearly to their ears.
They brazenly held court on Weibo, listing Xu Junyan's ten great crimes: betraying RNG, making unreasonable trouble at RNG, being unable to fit in even at the most humane club, and trying to destroy the entire LPL!
They were unbearably arrogant and smug. Without question, the worse Xu Junyan had it at this moment, the happier they were.
So how could they accept that the LPL had just completely declared Xu Junyan a castoff, only for the LCK to immediately announce his signing? And it was SKT, the world-renowned three-time champion superteam of the LCK, no less.
The Royal Hooligans began mocking the Weibo posts that reposted the Instagram announcement image, making contemptuous remarks:
"Here it comes, here it comes. This ungrateful bastard really has some pull, huh? Now you're saying the LCK invited him as an import?"
"You can even spin this? Save it. The LPL has completely dumped him already, hahaha!"
"No, I'm just wondering—out of all the things you could use to whitewash him, why did you have to claim that SKT officially announced Silence's signing? I'm dying laughing."
"Everyone knows the LCK doesn't have imports, much less SKT. They've already won three championships. Why would they possibly sign an import?"
"What a joke! SKT officially announcing the match-fixer's signing? I nearly spat out laughing! To borrow one of Uzi's comments: clown!"
"I'm putting my words right here: if SKT really announces his signing, I'll eat it! I'll eat ten tons! /sweating soybean"
"..."
Some ordinary LPL viewers who had just returned from Korean Instagram kindly reminded them in the comments, "It's real, brother."
The moment such comments appeared, those people instantly became the Royal Hooligans' next targets. The Royal Hooligans mocked and sneered at them.
"Go on, say it. How much did they pay you to whitewash him this hard?"
"Your mother's dead, isn't she? Saying crap like that!"
"He blasted the entire LPL, and he's been going against RNG all this time. Don't you have any damn common sense? You dare take even this kind of money? You really aren't afraid of dying!"
"The LCK invited your mother as an import! Find a better excuse next time, Yan fan!"
The kindhearted ordinary LPL viewers were left utterly baffled by the abuse. Then, with a whoosh, their tempers flared.
What the hell? They had merely offered a friendly reminder. Did this group of RNG fans really have to chase after them and bite like rabid dogs?
They had originally been neutral observers. At first, Xu Junyan's matter had nothing to do with them, so they could not be bothered to look into it. Later, when Xu Junyan blasted the entire LPL, they followed the crowd and gradually developed a dislike for him. But now, they suddenly hesitated.
RNG's fans were obviously a pack of vicious dogs! It made perfect sense for someone to fall out with them!
If the fans were already this deranged, could the claim that RNG, the LPL's most humane club as they loudly proclaimed, really be trusted?
Highly doubtful!
Then, if that was the case, had Xu Junyan really fixed matches? Or was RNG simply looking for an excuse for its embarrassing defeat at the S7 World Championship and pushing him out as a scapegoat?
Without thinking carefully about it, it was easy to be influenced and assimilated by the flood of RNG's grievances across the internet. But upon closer scrutiny, with even a little care taken to reexamine the matter, one could easily spot its biggest loophole.
RNG's fans had bombarded the entire internet with abuse, calling Xu Junyan a match-fixer, yet from beginning to end, they had never produced a single piece of evidence.
Even RNG had never truly and directly mentioned Xu Junyan fixing matches in any official Weibo statement. They had merely kept using evasive wording to mislead people and let their imaginations run wild.
The more they thought about it, the more terrifying it became!
Besides, another irrefutable fact had now been laid bare.
SKT of the neighboring league had, for the first time in its history, officially announced the signing of the team's first Chinese import—and that person was Xu Junyan!
It was hard to say how the LCK as a league should be judged. It had good points, but it also had plenty of disgusting ones.
But there was no denying that because South Korea had fully cultivated esports into a pillar industry of the nation, match-fixing was illegal there. It could land you in prison, and the penalties were countless times harsher than in the LPL.
Yet Xu Junyan had still gone there. He had even successfully joined SKT, the LCK's world-renowned three-time championship dynasty, becoming teammates with that man.
Some ordinary LPL viewers had gradually been hurt by the Royal Hooligans' indiscriminate attacks and finally regained their clarity.
The moment they did, they were utterly furious. What an RNG, what a bunch of Royal Hooligans, what an LPL! What gave them the right?
People often sympathized with the weak, especially online, where that sentiment was magnified without limit.
Previously, influenced by the prevailing narrative, they had seen RNG as the weaker side and sympathized with them immensely. Now that they had gradually figured everything out, they were simply enraged beyond measure.
Why the hell stay neutral? They immediately began clashing with the Royal Hooligans on Weibo in anger, trading sarcastic jabs and vicious insults. Though their numbers were negligible compared to the Royal Hooligans, the genuine fury bottled up inside them meant they did not fall behind in the slightest.
The war of words continued for a long time. Seeing that things had reached this point, some Royal Hooligans found that there were still people daring to stand on Xu Junyan's side and confront them. The situation even seemed to be escalating.
Something was wrong! The tide seemed to be gradually turning the wrong way.
Quite a few Royal Hooligans furrowed their brows tightly. Thinking of an utterly dreadful possibility, they hurriedly logged onto Korean Instagram and searched for SKT.
The moment they looked, every one of their faces turned as pale as death!
SKT's official Instagram, latest update at eight o'clock!
The wind rises from the smallest blades of grass, and waves form from the faintest ripples. In the name of warriors, we forge this bond; with the aspirations of a great swan, we aim for the vast sky!
We are delighted to introduce a new member to everyone: Silence Xu Junyan. From now on, he will officially join SKT Esports Club as a top laner, and together with us, he will march into battle!
Meeting him was an accident. Through our long time together, we continuously found ourselves resonating with one another. We regretted not meeting sooner, wishing to give everything for the same goal. Heaven rewards diligence—who else but us?
Though the outside world may harbor slanderous intent, my sincere heart reaches toward the heavens! With mountains and seas in one's heart, one moves slowly without contending. When the vast sea churns, why care about the opinions of others? I still command the winds and clouds, displaying a hero's true colors! Welcome, Silence! Our new friend!
Blinding! What incredibly blinding lines of introduction these were!
The Royal Hooligans all shuddered, unable to believe it, unwilling to believe it, incapable of believing it. They suspected it was all fake—absolutely fake, definitely!
But beneath that official announcement on Weibo was Faker's immediate repost and comment:
Although Junyan is SKT's first Chinese import, he is truly very strong. I personally look forward to the time when we can compete together! /smile
Junyan!
Silence!
The first Chinese import!
It was confirmed once again.
All of this was real...
The Royal Hooligans only felt their brains rumble. In an instant, their entire sky had suddenly collapsed!
Before you continue